Adjustable hair drier



June 1947. o. R. NEME I'H 2,422,311

ADJUSTABLE HAIR DRIER I Filed July 14, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

0H0 R. Nemef/z ATTORNEY BY GZZI-J/Z/M June 17, 1947. O NEMETH Y 2,422,311

ADJUSTABLE HAIR DRIER Filed July 14, 1945 3Sheets-Sheec 2 INVENTORQ R. Name? ATTORNEY June 17, 1947. Q NEMETH 2,422,311

ADJUSTABLE HAIR DRIER Filed July 14, 1945 s Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR.

BY Q%Mnw6/ ATTORNEY Patented June 17, 1947 ADJUSTABLE HAIR DRIER Otto R. Nemeth, Chicago, 111., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Helene Curtis Industries, Inc., a corporation of Illinois Application July 14, 1945, Serial No. 605,057

Claims.

This invention relates to hair driers and more particularly to driers which are especially designed for use in beauty parlors or the like and have a chambered head adjustable to receive the patrons head to the extent that the full drying air circulation within the drying chamber is brought to bear upon the hair.

In prior hair driers of this kind it has been common practice to effect vertical adjustment of the drier head by adjusting the height of the supporting pedestal. Since the drier head is a relatively heavy unit which contains within itself not only an air nozzle structure but also air impelling means including a drive motor, and heating elements, and must be supported cantilever fashion at one side of the pedestal, the attainment of satisfactory adjustment mechanism in the pedestal has always presented a serious problem. The adjustable pedestals have customarily consisted of telescoping tubes and more or less complex and none too reliable associated mechanism for maintaining the tubes in adjusted condition.

All adjustments in such prior hair driers to accommodate the drier head to the patrons head have of necessity required the attention of the attendant or beautician because from the very nature of the use of such a drier the patrons back is to the pedestal which is inaccessible for manipulation by the patron while under the drier. This factor is of special significance where readjustment is necessary during the drying process for the patrons comfort and for which it has therefore been necessary to call the attendant or-beautician who is generally already in attendance'upon another patron and whose work must thus be interrupted to effect the adjustment.

An object of the present invention is to provide an adjustable hair drier in which all necessary vertical adjustments are accomplished independently of the supporting pedestal.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hair drier which the patron can adjust and, more importantly, readjust alone and unaided at will.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a hair drier in which the drier head is mounted upon the pedestal in a new and improved manner for quick and easy vertical and tilting adjustment in a new and improved manner.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved hair drier of the foregoing general character which is of simple structure embodying few and easily assembled rugged parts, so that the device is highly susceptible to low cost quantity production methods of manufacture while nevertheless affording quite superior performance characteristic.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description taken together with the accompanying three sheets of drawings, in which:'

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a hair drier embodying the features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the hair drier.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional detail view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional detail View taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional detail view taken substantially in the plane of line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

A hair drier embodying the features of my invention comprises a head [0 carried at the top of a vertical standard or pedestal H to which it is connected by means of a novel adjustable connection such as a brachial linkage l2. The drier head ii) may be of any preferred form and construction and provided with an open mouth drying chamber to receive the head of hair to be dried of a patron sitting with back to the pedestal l l. The pedestal l I may be portable or stationary as desired.

According to the invention, the drier head I0 is enabled through the medium of the adjustable connection l2 to be moved vertically relative to the standard H within the entire desired range of adjustment. Throughout this range the head may remain at the same or substantially the same distance laterally of the pedestal axis, that is, move in a plane parallel to the pedestal. For most practical purposes, the more nearly perfectly vertically the drier head Ill can be adjusted the better, although there may be some circumstances in which it may be desirable for the drier head to move up and down in an arcuate or oblique path and the mechanical principal involved in the connection i2 is adequately versatile to accommodate preadjustment in this regard, within limits. In addition, the operating axis of the drier head itself should be adjustable throughout a substantial range in any position of vertical adjustment, and the brachial connection I2 adequately anticipates this need.

To the attainment of these ends, a preferred construction of the adjustable connection l2 as selected for illustration herein, comprises a connecting link [3 pivotally secured at one end to the standard 6 l through the medium of a knuckle member l4. At its opposite end the link memher it carries a pair of head-supporting arms l5 which may conveniently be made as solid or semi-solid castings of any suitable material such as a light weight metal.

Means are associated with the link member l3 and the knuckle member It and the arms it to the link [.3 and. the arms [5 are synchronized to move in a certain relationship to cause move ment of the outer or head supporting ends of the arms in a given path, herein up and down; perpendicular to the horizontal. In this instance, the interior of the link member I3 is hollow and houses control mechanism comprising a. pair of spaced members operatively connected toeifectthe desired action. In one desirable form-the-control mechanism is comprised of a: train of three gears I1, I13, and IS. The gear I? is mounted in fixed relation to the knuckle member [4 and the gear 119 is mounted in fixed relation to the arms I 5, while the gear i8 is. intermediate the gears Id; and Iz'aand meshesirotatably with both of the fixed gears.

As best seen in Fig. 3, the fixed gear l'i. i'skeyed or'pinnedasat 2% (Fig; 5) to. the shaft 2|, the opposite ends of which are fixedly supported by the knuckle member t4. To accommodate this relationship, the knuckle member it may be formed of two equal parts 22 each of which is formed with a complemental rabb'et which in juncture form a vertical upwardly and laterally opening slot within which to accommodate the contiguous or lower end of the link member 13 slidably. Within the opposed walls of the rabbet 23 are provided shaft bores 24 to accommodate the ends of the shaftv 21. Means for keying the shaft 2! against rotation relative to the knuckle member may comprise pins 25 held within pin receiving slots 21" formed in the respective walls of the knuckle halves 22; Means for separably securing the knuckle halves 22 together may comprise screws'28 and pins 29'. The securing togetherof the knuckle halves 22 may also be relied upon to clamp the knuckle member i4 onto the upper end of the pedestal i i which fits into clamping jaws to appropriately fashioned for this purnose at the lower end of the knuckle halves 22.

The link member I3 is preferably formed from apair of similarly shaped elongated castings or plate members 35 and 32 which are provided with coaxial bearing holes 33 and 34, respectively, slidably engagea-ble over the end portions of the fixed shaft 21' on opposite sides of the gear 29. This mounts the'link member l3 upon the shaft 2c for pivotal: rocking movement within limits defined by a stop pin 35 engageable at the upper limit with a vertical stop pin 31 extending from the top of the knuckle member M- and in the lower limit with the edge of the knuckle member. The extent Of such rocking movement is shown in Fig. 5' wherein the upper limit is indicated in full outline and the lower limit in broken outline. In the illustrated form, the link member plates 3-! and 32 are secured together in fixed spaced relation by means such as screws 38 driven into internally threaded spacer rods or studs 3% (Figs; 5' and 6). A closure band it may be secured about the edges of the link plates 3!- and 32 for enclosing the gear chamber between the plates.

A freely rotatable mounting for the intermediate gear I8 is provided by a shaft ll to which the gear is fixedly attached as by means of a pin Q2. The shaft 5! is freely journaled in appropriate coaxial journal apertures 43 in the link plates 3! and 32.

Mounting for the fixed gear l9 comprises a relatively long shaft 44 to which the gear is fixedly attached as by means of a pin it. The opposite end portions of the shaft 44 project in freely rotatable fashion through bearing apertures 4''! in the link plates 3! and 32.

The shaft 44 serves also as a connecting and spacing rod for the head-supporting arms I5. For this purpose the extremities of the shaft 44 are received snugly within coaxial bores 48 pro- 1 vided therefor in the respective opposed, cooperating ends. of the arms I5. In this relationship, the shaft 44' and the arms are rigidly secured together by means such as set screws 49 threaded into thearms and'radially against flats 50 on the arm-engaged portions of the shaft (Figs. 3 and 4*).

As a result of having the gear I! rigidly fixed with respect to the knuckle member l4, and the gear l9 rigidly secured with respect to the arms I 5 and the gear [8' freely rotatable and meshing with both of the fixed gears, swinging of the: con.- necting link member is or the arms: toaor from. eitherrof the full or broken outline positions shown in Fig. 5 causes the gears l8 and i9 to rotate; as indicated bythe directional arrows. This-sym chronizes the rocking movements of the link l:3i and the arms 5 5 to carrythe: drier head I'D? down orup: to and between the full line and.v broken line positicnsindi'catedinFig. 1. By appropriate; selection of the. gear: ratio and adjustment: of the; uppermost angle of the arms I'E-the axisofvertical movement of the drier head it will remai'n'constantly parallel to the axis. of the pedestal izl throughout the entire range of adjustment pree determined for the linkage I25.

Simple and efiicient counterbalancing means rendering the adjustment device capable of attaining and maintaining any vertically adjusted condition of the drier head It within the rangeof upper and lower limits, in the present in-- stance comprises a pair of identical strong coiled torsion springs 5| and 52 (Figs. 3 and 4-). Theseare disposed coaxially about the arm-connecting end portions of the gear axle shaft 44 in spaces provided therefor between the ends of the arms i5 and the respective sides of the link member is to which the ends of the springs are anchored; Each of the counterbalancingsprings has a longitudinally extending end-anchoring lug 53 extending through respective anchoring holes Ed in the respective plates 3| and 32" of the connecting link member. Oppositely extending anchoring lugs 55 at the opposite ends of the springs are received in sockets 51- within the opposing ends of the arms [5 The direction of spiral of each of the springs is forwardly fromthe link is so that in the left hand spring 54; the spiral runs toward the left and in the righthand spring 52 it runs toward the right, as seen in Fig; 3. Thus, when the arm [5 swings down and the link l3 rocks rearwardly the springs 51- and 52 are wound up or loaded; However, the tension of the springs 5'! and 52 is so calculated and related to the weight of the drier. head. III and the arms [5 as well as the frictional resist.- ance of the control gear train. that at all times asubstantially perfectly balanced condition prevails to maintain any adjusted condition within the full range permitted. Onl y moderatev effort is required to effect readjustment.

Uniform winding and unwinding of the coon-- terbalancing springs SI and '52:. is assured by equipping the shaft M, Where it extends through the springs, with equalizer mandrel's in. the form of bushings 58 of a diameter calculated to permit full winding of the respective springs: to.- the extent. required herein, but to? avoid the-normal' tendency toward" undue. contraction and! thus straining of the end coils, by: limiting the: extent to which they can contract. This assures uniform distribution of the winding tension upon the successive inner coils, thus equalizing the strain and tension within the springs during loading. In order that the equalizer bushings 58 may also serve as retaining collars to assist in maintaining the shaft 44 and thus the arms 15 against end play relative to the link E3, the bushings may be detachably but fixedly secured to the shaft as by means of set screws 59 engaging respective flats 60 on the shaft.

Means for neatly enclosing the springs i and 52 may comprise substantially cup-shaped closure or guard members 61 secured as by means of screws 62 to the adjacent ends of the respective arms l5. The mouth edges of the guards Bl are located to just clear the adjacent walls of the link member 13 for freedom of rotary action while yet maintaining a reasonably close protective relationship.

In operation, moderate downward or upward push or pull upon the drier head or upon the arms l5 will promptly attain the desired vertical adjustment. This is particularly advantageous in those cases where the person under the drier desires to effect an adjustment and who can thus accomplish same by merely grasping the drier head with an overhead reach and relocating it exactly as desired. Interference with such adjustment by the usual overheating of the outer shell of the drier head can be avoided by heat insulating at least the mouth marginal portion of the head l0 so that it can be grasped direct or by providing the head with handles, or other suitable expedient.

An additional feature of adjus'tability is attained by having the drier head connected pivotally to the arms 15 in such a manner that the head can be swung with the mouth opening out in any direction from between the arms. To illustrate this point, Fig. 1 shows the drier head in full outline and in dot-dash outline as directed in the general direction which it will normally assume to accommodate the head of a person sit-' ting therebeneath, while the dash outline indicates how the drier may be swung up to be directed substantially horizontally for accommodating the head of a person who, for example, is lying down or reclining. Any preferred pivotal connection may be employed between the head and the arms l5, but such connection should preferably be capable of maintaing any adjusted condition of the drier head against unintentional alteration.

While I have illustrated and described a certain preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not thereby intend to limit my invention to the specific form disclosed, but contemplate that various modifications, substitutions and alternative constructions may be eifected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination in a hair drier of the character described, a drier head, a support, a link structure pivoted about a horizontal axis to said support, an arm carrying said head and pivoted about a second horizontal axis to said link, a train of gears associated with said link structure and arranged to constrain the movement of said head in a path parallel to the axis of said support.

2. In combination in a hair drier of the character described, a drier head, a support, a link structure pivoted about a horizontal axis to said support, an arm carrying said head and pivoted about a second horizontal axis to said link, a gear rigid with said support, another gear rigid with said arm, an intermediate gear rotatably supported by said link and operatively engageable with both of said rigid gears, said gears arranged to constrain the movement of said arm so that the head is carried thereby in a path parallel to the axis of said support.

3. A mechanism for supporting a. drier head comprising in combination, a support, a plurality of pivotally associated members interposed between the support and the drier head, and a train of gears associated with said members and arranged to constrain the movement of said head in a path parallel to the axis of said support.

4. A mechanism for supporting a drier head comprising in combination, a vertical supporting standard terminating at the top in a bifurcated portion, a hollow link pivoted to said portion, a pair of arms pivoted to said link and oppositely arranged to support therebetween a drier head, and a train of gears housed in said link and ar-- ranged to constrain the movement of said arms so that the head is carried thereby in a path parallel to the axis of said supporting standard.

5. A mechanism for supporting a drier head comprising in combination, a vertical supporting standard terminating at the top in a bifurcated portion, a shaft fixed to the members of said bifurcated portion, a hollow link pivotally mounted on said shaft, an elongated shaft rotatably mounted in said link with theend portions thereof projecting from opposite sides of said link, an arm fixed to each end of said shaft and arranged to support therebetween a drier head, and a train of gears housed in said link, one of said ears being rigid with said first mentioned shaft, another of said gears being rigid with said elongated shaft, still another of said gears rotatably supported in said link and operatively engageable with both of said rigid gears, said gears arranged to constrain the movement of said arms so that the head is carried thereby in a path parallel to the axis of said supporting standard.

OTTO R. NEMETH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,090,439 Carwardine Aug. 17, 1937 1,782,660 Meyer Nov. 25, 1930 2,051,833 Ehrlich Aug. 25, 1936 1,747,643 Oliver Feb. 18, 1930 2,204,508 Matthies June 11, 1940 1,424,271 Anderson Aug. 1, 1922 1,823,535 Frutkow et a1 Sept. 15, 1931 2,301,661 Wiedenhoeft Nov. 10, 1942 2,233,300 Trythall Feb. 25, 1941 2,116,050 Stock et al May 3, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 504,791 Great Britain Apr. 28, 1939 

